Dynamic operation adjustment in wireless power transfer system

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system is provided having a wireless transmission system with an input to receive input power from an input power source, a transmission antenna configured to couple with a receiver antenna associated with a wireless receiver system in a peripheral device, and a transmission controller configured to generate AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals. The transmission controller is further configured to derive a coupling factor based on coupling data sent from the wireless receiver system to the wireless transmission system, generate an update frequency based on the derived coupling factor, and transmit the update frequency to the wireless receiver system in the peripheral device, whereby the peripheral device provides coupling data to the wireless transmission system based on the update frequency.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless power transfer system configured to transfer alternating current (AC) signals, the AC signals including power signals and data signals, the wireless power transfer system comprising:
 a wearable electronic device comprising a wireless receiver system including a receiver antenna, the wireless receiver system configured to alter electrical characteristics of the AC signals; and 
 a wireless transmission system, the wireless transmission system comprising:
 an input to receive input power from an input power source; 
 a transmission antenna configured to couple with a receiver antenna associated with the wireless receiver system; 
 a transmission controller configured to:
 generate AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the input power, the AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals, 
 transmit the AC wireless signals to the receiver antenna via the transmission antenna, 
 derive a coupling factor for the transmission based on coupling data sent from the wireless receiver system to the wireless transmission system, 
 generate an update frequency based on the derived coupling factor, and 
 transmit the update frequency to the wireless receiver system in the wearable electronic device, whereby the wearable electronic device provides coupling data to the wireless transmission system based on the update frequency; and 
 a demodulation circuit configured to receive communications signals from the wireless receiver system and decode the communications signals by determining a rate of change in electrical characteristics of the communications signals. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable electronic device includes one or more of electronically modified glasses, altered-reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable electronic device further comprises a load that is configured to store electrical energy, and
 wherein the wireless transmission system is configured to provide electrical power to the load. 
 
     
     
       4. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission controller is further configured to provide driving signals for driving the transmission antenna, and
 wherein the wireless transmission system further comprises:
 a power conditioning system configured to receive the driving signals and generate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the driving signals. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 megahertz (MHz), or about 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
       6. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission controller is configured to generate the update frequency based on the derived coupling factor by mapping the derived coupling factor to the update frequency based on a predetermined map. 
     
     
       7. A method of dynamically adjusting a wireless power transfer system, the method comprising:
 providing a wearable electronic device comprising a wireless receiver system including a receiver antenna; 
 providing a charging apparatus comprising a wireless transmission system including: (i) an input to receive input power from an input power source, (ii) a transmission antenna configured to couple with the receiver antenna of the wireless receiver system, (iii) an integrated circuit including a transmission controller, and (iv) a demodulation circuit; 
 detecting the wireless receiver system of the wearable electronic device by the wireless transmission system; 
 generating AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals by the transmission controller; 
 transmitting the AC wireless signals to the receiver antenna via the transmission antenna to provide power and data to the wearable electronic device; 
 receiving coupling data at the wireless transmission system from the wireless receiver system via the transmission antenna and the receiving antenna; 
 deriving a coupling factor based on the coupling data by the transmission controller; 
 generating an update frequency based on the derived coupling factor by the transmission controller; and 
 transmitting the update frequency from the wireless transmission system to the wireless receiver system via the transmission antenna and the receiving antenna, whereby the wearable electronic device provides coupling data to the wireless transmission system based on the update frequency. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 receiving communications signals from the wireless receiver system by the demodulation circuit; and 
 decoding the communications signals by the demodulation circuit by determining a rate of change in electrical characteristics of the communications signals. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wearable electronic device includes one or more of electronically modified glasses, altered-reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wearable electronic device further comprises a load that is configured to store electrical energy, and
 wherein transmitting the AC wireless signals to the receiver antenna comprises the transmitting the AC wireless signals to the receiver antenna thereby providing electrical power to the load. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals further comprises: generating driving signals for driving the transmission antenna, and
 conditioning the driving signals to generate the AC wireless signals based, at least in part, on the driving signals. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals further comprises encoding the wireless data signals in the AC wireless signals as modulations in the AC wireless signals. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transmission antenna is configured to operate based on an operating frequency of about 6.78 megahertz (MHz), or about 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , wherein generating an update frequency based on the derived coupling factor further comprises mapping the derived coupling factor to the update frequency based on a predetermined map. 
     
     
       15. A wireless power transfer system comprising:
 a wearable electronic device comprising a wireless receiver system, the wireless receiver system being configured to wirelessly transmit first data signals via inductive coupling, the first data signals including coupling data associated with the inductive coupling, and the first data signals being transmitted at a requested frequency; and 
 a charging apparatus including a surface configured to support the wearable electronic device, the charging apparatus comprising a wireless transmission system, the wireless transmission system comprising an integrated circuit including a transmission controller and a demodulation circuit, the wireless transmission system being configured to receive the first data signals including coupling data associated with the inductive coupling and transmit power and second data signals to the wireless receiver system via the inductive coupling, the transmission controller configured to derive a coupling factor associated with the inductive coupling based on the first data signals, generate an update frequency based on the derived coupling factor, and transmit the update frequency to the wireless receiver system to modify the requested frequency, the demodulation circuit configured to receive communications signals from the wireless receiver system and decode the communications signals by determining a rate of change in electrical characteristics of the communications signals. 
 
     
     
       16. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless receiver system is configured to use the transmitted power to either directly power the wearable electronic device or provide power to an electrical energy storage device of the wearable electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless transmission system is configured to operate at an operating frequency of about 6.78 megahertz (MHz), or about 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
       18. The wireless power transfer system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless transmission system is configured to generate the update frequency based on the derived coupling factor by mapping the derived coupling factor to the update frequency based on a predetermined map.